RESPECT - REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE
I am actively pursuing sustainable and ethical making within my practice, and it's important to me to be transparent in communicating the steps I am taking to be as responsible an artist and maker as I can. I've consciously added RESPECT to the 3 Rs that we are accustomed to as I feel very strongly about our education on and appreciation of the the materials we use - their origins, the journey they take to reach us, how they are processed and then released back into the environment, and the impact at every stage.
It is an ever evolving journey as I discover more and better alternatives. This page will be constantly changing as a result, and will serve to keep you informed and me accountable.
It is an ever evolving journey as I discover more and better alternatives. This page will be constantly changing as a result, and will serve to keep you informed and me accountable.
I am incredibly proud to be among the first 50 jewellers who took the Fair Luxury Pledge when it was initiated in 2021.
Fair Luxury is a collaboration of jewellery industry changemakers with a vision for a responsible and sustainable future. We met to discuss our individual and collective intentions for moving our own practice and the industry at large forward in addressing the social injustices and environmental destruction perpetuated by the supply chains and methods by which jewellery is produced.
In the words of the Fair Luxury collective:
'As individual designers, makers, traders and educators we’ve pledged to make changes and business decisions that are driven by more than just profit. In every aspect of our work we seek to ensure that we are achieving and maintaining a safe, sustainable and just industry for all. We dream of one day casting our minds back and feeling proud to place ourselves at the core of the revolution that transformed the jewellery trade for good.
We are each at a different stage in our journey towards responsible business, but we are all working on it. No matter how big or small, our collective actions will change the world.'
My Pledge:
My jewellery and artwork is conceptually and practically rooted in what is discarded. I am increasingly conscious of the potential impact of my practice on the environment, and also in the living and working conditions of communities involved in the supply chain. As a result I have been exclusively working with recycled and reclaimed materials. I pledge to establish a full circular economy within my practice. Specifically detoxifying my studio, reusing and reducing waste, and making my equipment, materials and designs work harder and more efficiently.
I am passionate about sourcing materials with my own hands, re-using what is already in circulation, and giving new life to what cannot be recycled.
However, I am also extremely aware that I am in a position to be able to support the livelihoods, environment and safety of small-scale and artisan mining communities. As a Fairmined licensed brand I am able to use Fairmined precious metals in my work and offer the option for commissioned pieces. By ensuring full provenance and traceability from mine to finished piece of jewellery I can actively promote and influence the demand for responsible working practices and establish a positive human connection.
Education and engagement is a significant part of the process and it is my responsibility to promote awareness. I am committed to encourage and facilitate anyone wanting to make more ethical choices.
Fair Luxury is a collaboration of jewellery industry changemakers with a vision for a responsible and sustainable future. We met to discuss our individual and collective intentions for moving our own practice and the industry at large forward in addressing the social injustices and environmental destruction perpetuated by the supply chains and methods by which jewellery is produced.
In the words of the Fair Luxury collective:
'As individual designers, makers, traders and educators we’ve pledged to make changes and business decisions that are driven by more than just profit. In every aspect of our work we seek to ensure that we are achieving and maintaining a safe, sustainable and just industry for all. We dream of one day casting our minds back and feeling proud to place ourselves at the core of the revolution that transformed the jewellery trade for good.
We are each at a different stage in our journey towards responsible business, but we are all working on it. No matter how big or small, our collective actions will change the world.'
My Pledge:
My jewellery and artwork is conceptually and practically rooted in what is discarded. I am increasingly conscious of the potential impact of my practice on the environment, and also in the living and working conditions of communities involved in the supply chain. As a result I have been exclusively working with recycled and reclaimed materials. I pledge to establish a full circular economy within my practice. Specifically detoxifying my studio, reusing and reducing waste, and making my equipment, materials and designs work harder and more efficiently.
I am passionate about sourcing materials with my own hands, re-using what is already in circulation, and giving new life to what cannot be recycled.
However, I am also extremely aware that I am in a position to be able to support the livelihoods, environment and safety of small-scale and artisan mining communities. As a Fairmined licensed brand I am able to use Fairmined precious metals in my work and offer the option for commissioned pieces. By ensuring full provenance and traceability from mine to finished piece of jewellery I can actively promote and influence the demand for responsible working practices and establish a positive human connection.
Education and engagement is a significant part of the process and it is my responsibility to promote awareness. I am committed to encourage and facilitate anyone wanting to make more ethical choices.
Fairmined transforms mining into an active force for good, ensuring social development and environmental protection,
providing everyone with a source of gold to be proud of.
providing everyone with a source of gold to be proud of.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR...
RESPONSIBLE SOURCING OF RAW MATERIALS
Precious Metals:
I use 100% recycled silver and gold. It is of the exact same high quality but reuses material already in circulation and not newly mined or direct from conflict mines. Instead the precious metal is recovered from medical and industrial use (ie. electric parts, plating), scrap jewellery and dentistry.
I have also become registered with Fairmined and can therefore offer the option of Fairmined precious metals in support of small-scale artisanal mining communities.
I also make sure to recycle all of my own silver 'waste' and offcuts by melting them down to create new pieces.
This includes recovering and reusing the silver deposited in the photographic fixer from my experimental darkroom processes in my jewellery and artwork, a method unique to my practice that I developed as part of my contribution to London Alternative Photography Collective's The Sustainable Darkroom Residency in April 2020. I have since expanded on this process with a view to collaborate with independent photographers and darkrooms to manage waste and share resources (read more about this in my Blog and in the publications and seminars at the bottom of this page - further updates to follow shortly).
Precious Metals:
I use 100% recycled silver and gold. It is of the exact same high quality but reuses material already in circulation and not newly mined or direct from conflict mines. Instead the precious metal is recovered from medical and industrial use (ie. electric parts, plating), scrap jewellery and dentistry.
I have also become registered with Fairmined and can therefore offer the option of Fairmined precious metals in support of small-scale artisanal mining communities.
I also make sure to recycle all of my own silver 'waste' and offcuts by melting them down to create new pieces.
This includes recovering and reusing the silver deposited in the photographic fixer from my experimental darkroom processes in my jewellery and artwork, a method unique to my practice that I developed as part of my contribution to London Alternative Photography Collective's The Sustainable Darkroom Residency in April 2020. I have since expanded on this process with a view to collaborate with independent photographers and darkrooms to manage waste and share resources (read more about this in my Blog and in the publications and seminars at the bottom of this page - further updates to follow shortly).
First bracelet plated with reclaimed silver from used photographic fixer from my method developed in April 2020
Other Materials:
All other jewellery materials are sourced sustainably and/or recycled (ie. reclaimed glass, metals and plastics, post-consumer recycled papers, precious/semi-precious stones that are sourced from the UK or from verified ethical suppliers or are recycled 2nd-hand stones).
I also create 'gemstones' and new material for making jewellery from waste materials such as glass and unrecyclable plastics and paper (eg. resin-coated photographic paper, nail varnish, hair, Lateral Flow Tests, waste paint and resin built up from automotive factories and boatyards...)
I reuse MDF and canvas off-cuts from my work in theatre as supports for my paintings and to create my exhibition and market displays.
I use alternative painting and drawing mediums such as tea, coffee, food colouring, botanicals. I am currently replacing all 'traditional' paints and inks with natural hand-made alternatives created from my hair and nails, plants, bricks, stones, soil and waste created from different processes within my studio.
Many of my paint brushes are made from waste materials including my hair.
USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICALS
PRINT & PACKAGING MATERIALS
My packaging is a perpetual work in progress!
The current trend for many small handmade businesses and independent artists appears to be a whole plethora of information cards, tissue, envelopes, bags, stickers, more tissue, ribbons, patterned tape, boxes in boxes in boxes and even more tissue. I desperately want to resist this rising pressure. I want to ensure that there is as little material waste for my customers to deal with as there is in making it and, let’s face it, reduce the overall expenditure on superfluous ‘stuff’ that will ultimately push up my prices or otherwise leave me barely covering my costs, for it to all end up in the bin anyway.
But, I do not wish to compromise on quality or that sensory experience of receiving an exciting and beautiful package. It’s all about balance.
It is my mission to keep all packaging and accompanying ‘stationery’ as minimal, reusable and sustainable as possible*
[*but still achingly cool and edgy]
Currently...
Artwork
Jewellery
All other jewellery materials are sourced sustainably and/or recycled (ie. reclaimed glass, metals and plastics, post-consumer recycled papers, precious/semi-precious stones that are sourced from the UK or from verified ethical suppliers or are recycled 2nd-hand stones).
I also create 'gemstones' and new material for making jewellery from waste materials such as glass and unrecyclable plastics and paper (eg. resin-coated photographic paper, nail varnish, hair, Lateral Flow Tests, waste paint and resin built up from automotive factories and boatyards...)
I reuse MDF and canvas off-cuts from my work in theatre as supports for my paintings and to create my exhibition and market displays.
I use alternative painting and drawing mediums such as tea, coffee, food colouring, botanicals. I am currently replacing all 'traditional' paints and inks with natural hand-made alternatives created from my hair and nails, plants, bricks, stones, soil and waste created from different processes within my studio.
Many of my paint brushes are made from waste materials including my hair.
USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICALS
- Non-toxic pickles and cleaning solutions
- I very very rarely use resin these days but if I do I will use Eco Resins (plant-based and sustainable)
- Biodegradable soap for degreasing metals
- Acid etching replaced with salt water and electro-etching
- Water-based, silica-free, vegan polishing compounds
- Moving from chemical patination methods to entirely natural homemade alternatives, such as salt, vinegar and boiled eggs
- Rainwater and reusing water from domestic dehumidifier for jewellery processes, ink/paint-making, painting and cleaning (a small positive from living in damp accommodation!
PRINT & PACKAGING MATERIALS
My packaging is a perpetual work in progress!
The current trend for many small handmade businesses and independent artists appears to be a whole plethora of information cards, tissue, envelopes, bags, stickers, more tissue, ribbons, patterned tape, boxes in boxes in boxes and even more tissue. I desperately want to resist this rising pressure. I want to ensure that there is as little material waste for my customers to deal with as there is in making it and, let’s face it, reduce the overall expenditure on superfluous ‘stuff’ that will ultimately push up my prices or otherwise leave me barely covering my costs, for it to all end up in the bin anyway.
But, I do not wish to compromise on quality or that sensory experience of receiving an exciting and beautiful package. It’s all about balance.
It is my mission to keep all packaging and accompanying ‘stationery’ as minimal, reusable and sustainable as possible*
[*but still achingly cool and edgy]
Currently...
Artwork
- Prints are packaged using UK-sourced recycled card backing and compostable cellophane envelopes (made from corn starch).
- Postage materials are recyclable and reusable by the recipient. With larger, heavier works I try to reuse boxes/packaging materials from deliveries (if I don't have any I ask around my neighbours!).
- Labels, tape and cards/paperwork as detailed below.
Jewellery
- Postal boxes are made from recycled material and are reusable/recyclable by the recipient.
- The tape I use to secure the postal boxes is eco-friendly and recyclable, even the adhesive!
- The ‘filler’ material inside the postage boxes to protect the contents is embossed and hand shredded using packing paper from deliveries and waste paper from making work in my studio. It can be reused or recycled (the type/colour of paper will vary depending on what kind of paper waste I have at the time!).
- Postage labels are made from waste paper offcuts from my studio and adhered using all natural rice paste glue.
- My business cards are from Moo, made from recycled cotton t-shirt scraps (I know!) and are mini artworks in themselves that you can frame if you want! They have a gorgeous texture.
- My info card is made from handmade seeded paper, so that when you are finished with it you can plant it and grow wild flowers!
- I use refillable printer ink cartridges.
- I currently don't include a ‘How to care for your jewellery’ card with orders. This information is on my website and I was wary of adding another piece of potentially unnecessary paper. I’m in two minds about this though and would love to know your thoughts. Is it better to have that sort of information with the piece to draw attention to the fact that jewellery needs looking after? If I do it will be on handmade seeded paper that can be planted and grown.
- My jewellery boxes are made from FSC®-certified cardboard. The glue, paper and cardboard of the box are 100% eco-friendly and are fully recyclable. I do not use the non-recyclable nasty foam inserts! I have replaced them with post-consumer recycled and recyclable acid-free black card from studio stock which I cut to size and texture/emboss myself. I'm still investigating other options.
- At fairs and markets I will always ask whether a bag is needed. Rather than branded bags that generally only get used once I use bags that have been made from recycled newspapers by an NGO (Non-Government Organisation) in India. The organisation was started in 2004 by street children who wanted to give something back in return for the opportunities which had allowed them to escape desperate circumstances. These elder children, now married with children of their own, generate an income by making newspaper bags and jute items. This allows them to take care of thirteen street children that they have saved from the streets surrounding Delhi train station. Support for this wonderful project means that these children can enjoy going to school and playing, rather than pulling rickshaws, shoe polishing, rag picking and worse. The group also creates employment for 60 families in the surrounding villages, who help to make the bags. The newspapers are either in Indian language or English. They are made from recycled newspapers, this is why sometimes your bag will have a completed crossword!
I welcome your feedback to see whether what I’m doing, or trying to do, lives up to the experience you would want as a customer parting with your hard-earned cash. Your opinions matter and help me adapt and grow.
Please do feel free to drop me a line via my contact page.
REDUCING WASTE & ENERGY CONSUMPTION
- My entire practice is based on a circular economy to reduce waste and use exisiting resources efficiently
- No waste leaves my studio! ALL 'waste' is retained until I can first and foremost reuse it in some way or if not can try to reduce its impact as much as I can to dispose of it as safely as possible. I am extremely Health & Safety conscious (a result of my background as a theatre Stage Manager) so I employ a lot of research into understanding the principles, consequences and safe working practices of the processes and materials that I use
- Development and implementation of efficient metal reclamation systems within my studio
- My studio is run using a green energy supplier and I'm currently investigating how I can implement solar power
- My website host runs on green energy, but I'm investigating more thorough sustainability credentials for my website
COMMUNITY & SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT ARTISTS/BUSINESSES
I'm very aware that although I'm a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades I am also a one-woman enterprise. So, whether I like it or not I can't always do absolutely everything myself (although it's not from lack of trying)! Therefore, it is extremely important to me to support other independent makers, artists and small businesses and as local to me as possible when choosing suppliers and assistance.
FURTHER INSIGHTS - TALKS, PUBLICATIONS & INTERVIEWS
If you'd like to hear a bit more about my circular economy practice, my use of waste materials and my development of extracting silver from used photographic fixer to make my jewellery I was invited to contribute to two publications by The Sustainable Darkroom and also to participate in two online seminars to discuss my work. I was also interviewed by Alternative Processes for a guest blog post about my unique concepts and techniques for turning darkroom waste into jewellery.
If you'd like to hear a bit more about my circular economy practice, my use of waste materials and my development of extracting silver from used photographic fixer to make my jewellery I was invited to contribute to two publications by The Sustainable Darkroom and also to participate in two online seminars to discuss my work. I was also interviewed by Alternative Processes for a guest blog post about my unique concepts and techniques for turning darkroom waste into jewellery.
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PUBLICATIONS:
This Is (Still) Not A Solution The Sustainable Darkroom publication, 2020 Publication resulting from London Alternative Photography Collective's The Sustainable Darkroom Residency 2020 Containing the development of my initial method of waste silver reclamation from used photographic fixer to plate pieces of jewellery and experimentations in reusing non-recyclable resin-coated photographic paper re.source
The Sustainable Darkroom publication, 2022 Containing my early 2021 updates on my method of waste silver reclamation from used photographic fixer plus experimentation reusing waste resin-coated photographic paper as a material for creating jewellery and 'gemstones' |
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SEMINARS:
July 2020 I was invited to do a short presentation on my process (including my original method of extracting silver from photographic fixer to make jewellery) by London Alternative Photographic Collective as part of The Sustainable Darkroom Residency that I took part in during April 2020. The talk focuses on recycling and reusing waste in the studio and darkroom. In a society with such an abundance of waste, how can we change our approach to consider it as a material and potential sight of enquiry rather than undesirable rubbish? This talk with myself, Michaela Davidova and Katrina Stamatopoulos took place via Zoom on the 23rd July, 2020 and was chaired by Hannah Fletcher. Transcript for my presentation available to read HERE |
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July 2022
I was invited to speak at artist Melanie King's 'Precious Metals' seminar. I first met Melanie early in 2021 when she asked me to teach her my silver reclamation from photographic fixer method that I developed to plate my jewellery and artwork as part of my contribution to London Alternative Photography Collective's Sustainable Darkroom Residency back in April 2020. Melanie's work from her project was exhibited at Photofusion, London. The accompanying seminar “broadly considers the use of precious metals in astronomy, photography, jewellery, and engineering". In my presentation I discussed my use of only recycled and responsibly sourced metals in my jewellery and some of my experimental processes for reducing and reusing waste within and beyond my circular studio practice, including one of my signature processes of jewellery made from resin coated photographic paper and silver extracted from the fixer the photos were created from. |
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INTERVIEWS:
July 2023 I was delighted to have been interviewed by Alternative Processes about my work incorporating photographic darkroom waste. I talk about my research, development and concepts behind a number of processes unique to my practice to create work that reclaims and reuses material that would otherwise be disposed of and potentially become harmful to the environment. Maintaining a circular studio practice and establishing mutually beneficial cross-discipline collaborations to reuse other industry’s waste is something I’m very passionate about. |
If you'd like some ideas on how you too can make a difference click below...